“Apeirogon”

Thanks to Gina and Dana for recommending this book which is both difficult in subject matter but uplifting at the same time.  Apeirogon, is a novel (though the two main characters and their story are real) written by Colum McCann in 2020.  It centers on the friendship between two men -  a Palestinian, Bassam and an Israeli, Rami.  Each has lost a young daughter at the hands of the enemy - an Israeli border patrolman and a Palestinian suicide bomber.  But the two forge a friendship in their shared passion for spreading a message of education and understanding and their mutual desire to end “Israel’s occupation of Palestine”.  Personally, I don’t agree with the solution offered in this book, but I do believe it’s important to expose oneself to many perspectives.  I can understand that when a parent loses a child, they only want peace at whatever cost.  The story is told in a non-linear fashion referencing historical facts, anecdotes, references to literature and other art forms.  It really is quite a fascinating book both in form and content and I absolutely recommend it.